We are months away from the kickoff of the 2013-14 season, but already the impact of next summer’s free agency is starting to seep into the proceedings—specifically, how players and teams with impending free agents plan to address the issue.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Heat star Dwyane Wade said he planned to address his future free agency at the Heat’s media day at the end of September and would not talk about it again during the season in order to avoid distraction.

“Everybody knows where I want to be. I want to be in Miami,” Wade said, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “I have nothing to talk about. So there won’t be any exciting news over here.”

Of course, the bigger issue for the Heat is the opt-out clause that LeBron James possesses. James is all but certain to opt out of his contract next summer, becoming a free agent. When he does, the Lakers are expected to be first in line to try to pry him out of Miami. It has been rumored, too, that James has interest in rejoining the Cavaliers, though that appears to be a long shot.

Should James and Wade opt out and re-sign with the Heat, Miami will have a decision to make on Chris Bosh, who also has an opt-out clause. Paying all three players will make it difficult for the Heat to avoid the luxury tax going forward.

But the goal of the Heat—and others—appears to be limiting the discussion about the offseason during the regular season. Remember the winter of 2011, when Carmelo Anthony was looking at free agency and had refused to sign an extension with the Nuggets, igniting a months-long saga that ended with him being traded to New York. During that year, coach George Karl complained the Anthony was, “distracted” and wondered whether he should limit his star’s minutes because of it.

Anthony frequently and honestly answered media questions about his situation. Don’t expect the same level of openness in the coming year.

“Nip it in the bud,” one general manager told Sporting News. “No offense, but you guys (the media) can create a problem in the locker room by asking about it over and over. And it’s your job, everyone understands that. But players, their job is to be focused in practice, focused in games, focused in film sessions. And if they’re sitting there wondering, ‘What would it be like to play here?’ then they’re not focused. You’ve got to tell players just to not answer the questions. Or else it is can be a long 82 games.”

That could be trouble for quote-seekers. The 2014 free-agent class is expected to be bustling, not only with Wade, Bosh and James, but with players like Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol, Luol Deng and Zach Randolph. Depending on how things go with potential restricted free agents Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors and Greg Monroe, they too could be on the market.

That’s a boatload of potentially distracted players. But Wade, for one, plans to discuss free agency once and turn down any further queries on the subject. Expect the bulk of players and teams to take the same approach.